The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1887-04-13


achieving command of the art is to
begin working on the round, leaving
the study of relief to follow as
sequence, and which will be mere play
in comparison; but relief work is not to
be despised on that account. From
high relief to the modelling OF small
statues the way is not difficult, ana
charming little ornaments in this line
are often turned out from the hands OF
the tyro. 1t follows that tyros who are
capable of producing pleasing objects
have an eye for proportion not possess
ed by all. In this talent rests the main
secret of success or failure, although
much may be done by measurement ana
calculation. Indeed the most accom-
plished sculptor relies upon these
methods of reproducing the model. but
no amount of measurement and cal4'
lation can produce the exquisite quail
ties of light and shade found in fin
sculpture. That is art
1t may be that after the amateur
shall have modelled fair bit in relief
he will wish to reproduce it in plaster.
This is n simple matter. We will sup
pose that the subject is panel or a
medallion. Build q wall of beeswaS
two or three inches high about its out
err edge, or it may be fitted into
frame of paseboard of the exact size,
and give the model thorough oiling
with brush dipped in boiled linseed,
oil. They mix plaster of paris with
water to the consistency Of thick
cream, beating it free from Jumps, and
pour it upon the model until it shall be
of the required thickness. Let it stand
for ten minutes or So when it will DO
hardened sufficiently to be separated
from the clay, which may be done with
dull knife, first scraping the edge UNI
til the dividing line may be seen. In
twenty-four hours the cast will be quite
hard and may be used in turn MS
mold in which TO produce II lac simlle
of the original, which is n repetition
of the process just described If the
plaster has been mixed with milk and
water, or if il be brushed over with a
mixture of oil and wax, the surface
will when dry take good polish, and
will after awhlIo acquire the appear.
ance of old ivory. Another method is
to keep the cast in an oven of about 300
degrees for forty-eight hours, and then
to steep it in olive oil. Afterward i'm
merse il in warm water and polish
with whiting. The plaster for casts
may be tinted any desired color by col
oring the water with which it is mixed
with soluble dyes. Gum arabic and
alum mixed with the water will make
the plaster as hard rs the hardest wood,
so that it may be used in ornamenting
furniture. Gelatine is often used to
make mold to receive the plaster cast
and takes finer impression than the
plaster, being smoother and softer.
Stiff flour paste or the paper-mache
used by stercotypers may also serve the
purpose. The latter is often used by
travellers to take impress ons of bas-
reliefs or inscriptions which are not
easy to copy in any other way.
But aside from making casts of ones
own work it may be desirable to copy
bronze or marble medalops or panels.
This may be done W thout injury to
to the original by taking the impression
in any of the materials mentioned,
which serves rs mold into which to
pour the plaster. A series of plaster
panels over doors, or surrounding
mantels, or bordering lire-paces (as
tiles are commonly used). will do
much in the way of decoration, and the
process is so easy. especially if bronze
or other models be used and the ex.
pense so trilling that amateurs will find
in the work rare satisfaction. -Phitd.
delphia Record.